Natsu pov:

I have been here for about 2 weeks now. My job here is to take care of Rin and Kaito and the job is quite rewarding. I have a roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep on and 3 square healthy meals a day.

Sesshomaru is very protective of Rin and he occasionally sits in the garden and watches her play. Its really awkward for me ever since that incident that happened between us. But its tolerable since Sesshomaru acts like it never happened. Ever since that night, he hasn’t glanced at me once even when we pass by in the corridor and I bow to him.

Besides being very self conscious and awkward around him, the other servants seem to love staring at me. She speak in whispers when they pass me and give me glares. At first I didn’t really understand why, since both humans and demons acted the same way. The girls mostly thought about how lucky I was to be close to Sesshomaru and tried to say stuff mike how ugly I was and how unfit I was to be close to him. Man, jealousy was overstated….

The men usually complimented my looks and commented on how unlucky they were that they never had a chance to talk to me and get close to me.

I sighed. There they go again….the girls hiding behind the door and sneering at me as if I cant see them. “Ah, seriously…..cant I have one minute of the day without someone glaring at me?” I mumbled to myself. “Glaring?” I jumped and looked up to see a demon. He had short dark blue hair and deep green eyes and he wore a weird looking outfit with a sword at his side.

“Um, not to be rude or anything….but who are you?” He chuckled and sat down next to me. “So you’re the famous Natsu chan I have heard about.” I raised a brow. Natsu chan?? “All the girls, especially Mina are angry that you get to be so close to Lord Sesshomaru.” Hmmm….Mina was that red head who threatened me the day I arrived here. The half demon idiot. “You didn’t really answer my question, you know….”

“Forgive me. I am General Kazuki. I lead Lord Sesshomaru’s army.” “Oh! Its nice to meet you, general Kazuki.” I smiled and he chuckled. “You can call me just Kazuki. I like the way you show no fear to the other servants. They seem to like you….kind of like, love at first sight?” “Pfft….hahahahahahaha!!!” I burst out laughing and he seemed shocked at my reaction.

I held my side when it started to hurt from the intensity of my laughter. I wiped a tear from my eye. “Sorry *chuckle* but that totally threw me off! Love at first sight? Please! That is so corny!” He narrowed his eyes. I sighed with another soft laugh.

“I didn’t mean to make fun of what you said, but its just that I don’t believe in love at first sight. Whats the point in loving a person just for their looks? Take me for example.” I looked at Rin and Kaito who were playing. “I met Kaito when the slave traders caught me. Everyone hated him because he is a half demon and he looked frightening with his wings. But when I looked more closely, he wasn’t scary. He was trembling out of fear himself; being alone in the world and not having anyone to depend on.”

I looked back at Kazuki and giggled. “I know its not the same love you are talking about, but affection is the same feeling which can differ with the person you are with right?” Kazuki smirked. “I like your attitude. Much better than all the brainless women in this castle.”

“Thanks!” I chuckled. “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.” I got up and headed to Kaito and Rin.

>>Timeskip 7 months

Natsu pov:

Things have been going smoothly. I have gotten well settled in the castle and even though I am friends only with the general, I don’t feel lonely since I spend most of my time with Rin and Kaito.

“Natsu san! Master Jaken wants to see you. He’s waiting in the servant quarters!” I turned to see one of the girls who worked at the castle. Rin and Kaito were in the room playing and I had come out to get some snacks for them. I was on my way back to the room when the girl had told me that Jaken wanted to see me.

I handed the plate of snacks to the girl and asked her to take the snacks to Rin’s room and I headed to the quarters.

Sesshomaru pov:

*knock knock*

I growled as my paperwork was interrupted by Kazuki. I gave him permission to enter and glared. “What is it Kazuki? I told no one to disturb me!” I roared but he bowed. “Forgive my intrusion, my lord. But I saw one of the servants kidnapping Rin and the half demon child from her room.”

I hit my fists against the table hard. “WHAT??! Where is the wench?” Kazuki flinched. “My lord, her caretaker wasn’t with them.” My vision went red in anger. How dare she! I had come to trust that human with Rin and I had threatened her that if something happened to her, she would die! I will kill her now!

I flew to the servant quarters where I could get Rin’s and that half breed’s scent. My eyes were wide and I was boiling with anger. The caretaker stood there watching one demon servant. 2 other servants held Rin and the half breed and they were crying. My anger raised more and I was ready to kill her in a flash, but I hesitated.

“Let them go, Mina.” Her voice was low and her eyes looked livid. It was the first time I had seen a human so serious, angry, and so determined. Her hands were clenched tightly next to her and were trembling in rage. I narrowed my eyes and they returned to the normal color as I watched. I wanted to see what she would do, but if anything became dangerous for Rin, I would step in.

Kazuki appeared next to me and frowned. “My lord, aren’t you going to do something?” “Quiet. I want to see what she is planning, whether she is really worthy to protect Rin.” If she was Rin’s care taker, she had an obligation to protect her in dangerous situations too.

“Oh? You want them to go free? Maybe this situation wouldn’t have happened if you had listened to me that day. I give orders among these slaves.” Her knuckles went white. “I said, Let. Them. Go.” She hissed. The demon slave wavered but chuckled and waved a hand. The slave holding the half breed took out a knife and slashed him on the arm. He cried out and reached a hand calling her ‘ne chan’.

“That’s it!!!” She moved fast for a human and punched and kicked the 2 slaves who held Rin and the half breed. Then she turned to the demon and kneed her in the stomach, elbowed her in the back and threw her over her shoulder with a loud thud.

“You human wench!” She screamed and tried to punch her but she caught her wrist and held it in a firm grip. She tightened her grip and moved her hand. I heard the demon’s wrist break and she screamed in agony. She fell to the ground and the girl held the demon’s collar bringing her face close.

“Listen here, bird brain. I have the skill to fight and break every bone in your body and I’m not afraid to use it! Don’t you DARE try to order me around again! And if you come near me, Kaito or Rin one more time, its gonna be a lot more painful than this time, got it?” She hissed and the demon whimpered out an apology. I smirked. I hadn’t expected to see this in a weak human female, but she didn’t seem that weak at all.

And something about her drew me to her….I frowned. Rin and the half demon ran to her and hugged her and she hugged them softly and kissed their foreheads. She tore a piece of her kimono and tied it around the wound that had been inflicted on the half demon and she told him to be brave and strong. My fingers twitched.

The softness of her skin that I had touched that day made my fingers tingle. My nose twitched at her sweet scent and I clenched my jaw.

I turned around and headed back to the castle. Rin was safe, but I had to distance myself from that human….she was making me feel strange….strange to the point where I would often gaze at her when she watched over Rin and the half breed. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh.

I had more important things to do.

Natsu pov:

“Waaah!” Kaito and Rin were crying and I smiled softly. “C’mon you two. Everything is fine now! Stop crying…” They came and hugged me and I chuckled. I held them back softly and closed my eyes. “You were amazing!!!”

I opened my eyes and saw Aiko standing in front of me. He had ears on his head and a fluffy tail that was wagging at super speed. I sweatdropped. “Whats with the ears and tail? You didn’t have them the first day I met you.”

Rin and Kaito still held me and sniffled and I picked them up in my arms. Aiko smiled sheepishly. “I’m actually a half demon….and just like all half demons, on the 15th day after the new moon, I turn into a full demon – well just for the night.” “Just like all other half demons? What do you mean?”

“We half demons either turn full human or full demon once a month. That’s how it is….” He shrugged and I just nodded. Kaito tensed and I smiled again. I carried them to the garden and soon they were playing happily. “Ne chan!” Kaito gave me a bouquet of flowers. It was a common thing everyday. I received a bunch of flowers from Kaito and Rin everyday. Rin handed me hers too and I smiled. “Thank you!”

I frowned when they suddenly tensed up. “Whats wrong?” I saw their eyes become half closed and dark. The turned away from me and began to head towards the forest. “Hey, where are you going? Rin? Kaito?” They didn’t even acknowledge me and headed out of the bushes and into the forest.

I followed them and tried to pull them back to the castle grounds but they moved as if they couldn’t be stopped by anyone they felt like boulders just pushing through. I guess I didn’t have a choice but to follow them. But how could there be a weak spot in the castle? Sesshomaru was always so strict about his castle security….how did this place be so open that people could walk in and out as they wanted?

The forest got more and more dense and it was making me feel uneasy. We made it to a dark clearing and I heard a deep laughter. I tensed up and stood between Kaito and Rin while holding their hands. “My my….what a delicious looking human.” “Who’s there?! Come out and show yourself, coward!”

I heard a rustle in the bushes in front of me and I snapped my head to see a man in a blue kimono with long black wavy hair and deep red eyes. He was definitely a demon. I could tell. I furrowed my brows and glared. “Who are you? What do you intend to do to Rin and Kaito?” He smirked and chuckled again. “A feisty human….interesting.” he walked closer to me and grabbed my chin in a tight hold.

I winced but sent my foot to his stomach, but before I could hit him, he moved away. “Well, looks like my little spell hasn’t affected you. You still have control over your body.” “What the heck is that supposed to mean?” I glared again. “I see you know how to fight….are you a demon slayer? Why are you a pathetic servant to Lord Sesshomaru?”

I narrowed my eyes. “What I do is none of your concern. Who are you? Let Rin and Kaito go, NOW!” “I am Naraku.” Rin and Kaito fainted and I realized that the curse was lifted. I sighed and looked back at this Naraku person. I gasped when the ground shook and Rin and Kaito were picked up by huge tentacles and were held in the air. “No! RIn! Kaito!”

“You! Let them go!” He chuckled darkly and I felt a wave of fear go through me. “I think not! I lost my lunch today since you weren’t affected by my curse. But if you are willing to come and be my servant, I may consider letting these pathetic creatures go.”

Shit! I mentally cursed. What should I do? I stiffened for a minute. The knife in my pocket! I had kept it when I was coming from the kitchen because I wanted to cut some fruit with it! I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “What will you do?” He mocked and I snapped my eyes open. Rin and Kaito had become conscious and were screaming.

I knew that Sesshomaru would hear them and I just needed to but time. I pulled out the knife and managed to run quickly at the tentacles and chop them off. “Rin! Kaito! Run!” “No! we wont leave ne chan!” I tried to persuade them while dodging attacks from this demon, but they didn’t leave no matter what.

“AAh!” I hissed when a tentacle cut my arm deeply and left several cuts all over my body. My kimono was torn and the part till my knee was torn off. I wan panting and I held the knife in front of me still determined not to lose. But I was feeling tired and dizzy from the blood loss. “Still fighting? It would be better for me and you if you come with me quietly.”

I spat out some blood that was in my mouth. I smirked at him. “Don’t underestimate me. I’ve been through worse.” I ran at him and bee lined as I dodged his tentacles. I jumped and pierced through a tentacle that came at me. I jumped again and slashed Naraku’s chest. He gasped and took a step back.

The next minute, I lost my balance, but a sword came down in front of me and slashed Naraku in half. He disappeared with a chuckle. “I will be back for you, Natsu chan…” And I fell to the ground in someone’s arms, or rather, arm. I looked up and gasped to see Sesshomru holding me. “Are you alright?” I widened my eyes and pushed him until I landed on the ground.

I scooted back while breathing heavily and Kaito and Rin ran to me and hugged me. I winced and suddenly felt dizzy again. I tried to stand but collapsed. I was lifted up by Sesshomaru again and I gasped. “Let me go! I c-can walk by myself!” “Quiet onna!”

I froze at the venom in his voice. I kept extremely still as we walked back to the castle. When we reached the castle, I let my bangs cover my face as I blushed in embarrassment when we became the center of attraction. I felt my eyes sting and I bit my lip hard to stop the tears that threatened to escape. Kaito and Rin were escorted to their room by Kazuki and I was carried to Sesshomaru’s room and unceremoniously dropped on the bed.

I looked up in discomfort and he just stared with those intense eyes of his.

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